Famine Early Warning Systems Network

Rainfall from September 1 to November 25 and the evidence identified in field surveys indicate normal development of Postrera crops (maize, beans and sorghum). As such, average harvests are expected, especially in the areas influenced by the Pacific basins (Figure 2). The harvest runs from the second half of December 2019 to the second half of January 2020.

According to probability forecasts of cumulative rainfall derived from the 60th Central American Climate Forum, average rainfall is expected throughout most of the region for the December 2019 to March 2020 period. This should favor the growth of basic grain crops in the Apante season, which has already begun in some areas of central Honduras and the North Atlantic regions of Nicaragua. These crops will be harvested in February and March 2020, replenishing the markets in the region and helping stabilize prices.

From March 2020, households that no longer have food reserves will use their income from work harvesting coffee and sugarcane and other activities to buy food. Most poor households will be able to meet their basic food needs, but will encounter difficulty accessing basic non-food goods. Some areas in the region will be Stressed (IPC Phase 2). Pockets of households in isolated communities may encounter difficulties acquiring food and will need to use negative coping strategies, finding themselves in Crisis (IPC Phase 3).